A former Democrat, governor credited with building GOP majority

Perdue, halfway through his term as Georgia's first Republican governor in 130 years, has won an advantage in his 2006 drive for re-election: a General Assembly dominated by the GOP.

During a press conference, the governor recalled he had seen the GOP wave coming when he switched parties in 1998.

At that time, he lost his high-ranking position in a state Senate still controlled by Democrats. Six years later, Perdue sits atop a Republican majority in state government, a majority many say the governor himself helped build.

They credit Perdue with, first, defeating then-Gov. Roy Barnes in a long-shot bid to topple the incumbent in 2002; then, winning over four party-switchers that swung the Senate to the Republicans days later; and recruiting candidates and raising money for House members in key districts that ended up swinging the election.

"I think it would be awfully tough to envision a Republican General Assembly without the leadership of Governor Perdue," said Republican Party spokesman Marty Klein.

Charles Bullock, a political science professor at the University of Georgia, said it's hard to figure out how much Perdue helped when compared to new legislative districts drawn by a three-judge panel earlier this year and a gay-marriage referendum that energized conservatives.

"He was certainly one of the factors," Bullock said.

Of course, members of Perdue's old party aren't so sure.

"The election has much more to do with George Bush's coattails than Sonny Perdue's," Democratic Party Chairman Bobby Kahn said through a spokesman. Whether Perdue is responsible for the majority or not, Republicans' fortunes began changing almost immediately after he beat Barnes. Shortly after he won that election, Perdue began calling Senate friends and colleagues, prevailing upon them to join the Republican Party.

Eventually, four answered Perdue's call: Sens. Jack Hill of Reidsville; Don Cheeks, in Augusta; Dan Lee, of LaGrange; and Rooney Bowen, in Cordele. They turned what had been a 30-26 Democratic majority on its head, giving Republicans the same four-vote margin.

Perdue's appeals were, at times, personal. He prevailed upon Hill, a roommate and longtime friend, to join his team.

"When he won, I wanted to see him be a success ... and he convinced me if I was interested in his success that he had to be in control of one of the bodies," Hill recently recalled.

With a Republican Senate, Perdue was able to push some of his initiatives and put pressure on the still-Democratic House.

"I think he has set the tone of principled decision-making and being honest with Georgians about the situation that we're in," said Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson, R-Savannah.

It was then that Perdue turned his attention to the task of winning the House for Republicans. When Perdue was sworn in, Democrats held a 108-71 edge over Republicans in the House, with an independent that usually voted with the GOP.

The governor once again pressed conservative Democrats to switch parties; five did. And Perdue helped draw strong GOP candidates into the fray in the battle to regain the House.

"Having an incumbent governor as popular as he is helped us first in recruiting candidates," said House Majority Leader-elect Jerry Keen, R-St. Simons Island.

House members also give Perdue credit for stumping around the state, showing support for challengers and candidates running for open seats while driving donations for Republican candidates. Klein said Perdue held 40 fund-raisers and took part in the party's 39-city tour the week before the election.

"With him going out there and work with those candidates ... the people saw the support (House candidates) were receiving from an incumbent Republican governor," Burmeister said.

It was with that in mind that Rep. Glenn Richardson, a Dallas Republican who was nominated to be speaker in the legislative session that opens in January, thanked Perdue last week in a speech to the GOP caucus.

"He's a great man to work for and he began this process that allows us to be here today," Richardson said.

Republicans say they see no irony in giving credit to a former Democrat for helping them win control of the General Assembly.

And however large Perdue's contributions, Republican lawmakers say it is something they won't forget when the governor faces voters in two years.

"We will return that favor by working very, very hard to ensure his re-election in 2006," Keen said.

Brandon Larrabee can be reached at brandon.larrabee@morris.com or (404) 681-1701.